A number of international supporters have praised midfielder Ross Barkley on social media for his performance against Croatia on Sunday.
The former Everton man impressed in the Three Lions’ 2-1 Nations League win at Wembley, producing a smart display full of invention and defensive discipline.
While it was Tottenham’s Harry Kane goal which lifted the roof of Wembley, it did not stop the fans watching on from going wild over Chelsea’s Barkley for his role in victory, with some insisting he was looking back to his best.
COMMENTARY
You can completely understand where the England supporters are coming from, here, because Barkley’s performance was terrific on Sunday. The Chelsea man looked completely assured in the middle of the park, forming a strong central midfield trio with Eric Dier and Fabian Delph. He gives England something a bit different, as he’s able to run at the opposition defence with pace, while possessing underrated technical ability. Under Maurizio Sarri’s stewardship we are now seeing the player that everyone expected to emerge when Barkley burst onto the scene with the Toffees all those years ago. Sunday was another reminder of the wonderful progress he has made this campaign, and will give him confidence to continue his fine form once he returns to his club side. The midfielder won’t have been entirely pleased with the result, but he’ll know that he couldn’t have done much more to try and propel England to victory.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
https://twitter.com/Richsimon1978/status/1064170704189513728
https://twitter.com/FtblRossBarkley/status/1064170258670456832
Frustrating first half, Pickford is looking a bit dodgy in goal, Barkley is looking good but I can't help feeling if we had a striker like @alanshearer we would be at least 2 up.#comeonengland ??????? #ENGCRO
— ??BeerHuntingStormtrooper????????? (@beerhunter74) November 18, 2018
Delph and Barkley running the midfield , Sterling and Kane wasteful and Rashford having lumps kicked out of him by Croatia #England #ENGCRO
— Ash Skinner (@Villaboy89) November 18, 2018
Delph and Barkley have bin class
— Nathan (@_Nathanshapland) November 18, 2018
@England 1st half thoughts;
Delph & Barkley are very good.
Sterling either plays really good or really bad.
Kane looks sluggish & unfit.
The way Southgate sets us up impresses me.
Great to see such a young team clearly developing a style of play.— Ed 034 ????? (@dingdinghopkin) November 18, 2018
Many positives from that first 45, Delph, Barkley and Sterling all brilliant, just a quality finish away from the win ?#NationsLeague #ENGCRO #ThreeLions
— James Cox (@jamescox__) November 18, 2018
Barkley and Sterling are the best players on that field currently.
Lingard needs to get on though.— Felix Things (@felix_szn) November 18, 2018
@england a joy to watch. Barkley back to his best – just need to be clinical.
— J (@jtwallace17) November 18, 2018